Toggle switch lever

ABSTRACT

The toggle switch actuator has a handle having a spherical portion which seats on the seat inside the bushing to provide the pivot action for the handle. The plastic insert in the bushing has a slot in which the handle portion having the opposed flats is guided while handle rotation about its own axis is prevented. The spherical portion of the handle is captured between the seat and the insert. Ears on the insert project through slots in the bushing into slots in the mounting plate to prevent any relative rotation of the bushing, insert or plate. The end of the bushing is rolled over the plate to complete the assembly.

Unite States atet [72] lnventor John B. Foreman [54] TOGGLE SWITCH LEVER 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 74/523, 200/172, 200/172 B 51 m. CL G05g1/04, HOlh 21/06 [50] Field of Search 74/523,

532,100. 97; ZOO/172, 172 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,059 10/1931 Meuer 200/172 1,854,211 4/1932 Meuer 200/172 2,861,156 11/1958 Kulka 200/172 X 3,237,460 3/1966 Morse 200/172 X 3,390,237 6/1968 Maas 200/172 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,085,587 7/1960 Germany ZOO/172 Primary Examiner-William F. O'Dea Assistant ExaminerThomas R. Hampshire Al!0rne \sJohn W. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard H.

Michael, Paul R. Puerner, Joseph A. Gemignani, Andrew 0. Riteris, Daniel Van Dyke and Spencer B. Michael ABSTRACT: The toggle switch actuator has a handle having a spherical portion which seats on the seat inside the bushing to provide the pivot action for the handle. The plastic insert in the bushing has a slot in which the handle portion having the opposed flats is guided while handle rotation about its own axis is prevented. The spherical portion of the handle is captured between the seat and the insert. Ears on the insert project through slots in the bushing into slots in the mounting plate to prevent any relative rotation of the bushing, insert or plate. The end of the bushing is rolled over the plate to complete the assembly.

TOGGLE SWITCH LEVER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Toggle switch levers or handles have traditionally been pivoted, which entails appreciable costs. The pivot pin has been eliminated by use of a cooperating ball and socket on the handle and bushing but this arrangement does not prevent rotation of the handle about its axis and some switches do not provide the necessary guidance to the handle. The ball and socket idea, therefore, had limited application.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The construction described in the abstract guides the handle and prevents rotation. Therefore, the ball and socket-type pivot action is applicable to many switches when used with the present construction. This, in turn, effects considerable cost savings. The construction also permits a low cost final assembly locking the bushing and handle relative to the mounting plate so the plane of motion of the handle cannot later be disoriented.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. l is an elevation of the switch lever assembly.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of the assembly viewed from below.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Bushing is externally threaded for mounting in a panel and is provided with an internal seat 12 against which the spherical portion 14 of handle 15 seats to give a pivot action about the center of the spherical portion. Bushing insert 16 has a slot 18 through which the handle portion, having opposed flats 20, projects. The flats terminate short of the seating area of the spherical portion 14 and the handle is, therefore, captured between the seat 12 and the insert 16. The flats 20 have a reasonably close fit in the slot 18 to guide and constrain the handle motion to rocking in the desired plane. The illustrated handle has a central blind hole 22 housing spring 24 compressed to urge actuating pin 26 against the switch mechanism (not shown).

Bushing insert 16 has diametrically opposed ears 28 which project through slots 30 in the bushing to hold the insert rotationally fixed relative to the bushing. The ears 28 extend beyond the bushing and are received in notches 32 in mounting plate 34 having an aperture 36 receiving the end of the bushing 10. This locks the bushing and insert relative to the plate. The bushing is now rolled over the underside of the plate as at 38 to clamp the bushing to the plate. Except for spring 24 and pin 26, the assembly is complete and can be handled without falling apart. The handle is constrained to movement in a plane (in this case parallel to the length of plate 34) so assembly to the switch will orient the motion properly. And the motion cannot be disoriented. If desired, another set of notches 32 could be provided at right angles, for example, to orient the handle motion plane differently. Other means of locking the bushing to the plate can be used if desired.

I claim: 1. A toggle switch actuator assembly comprising,

a bushing having an internal seat, a handle mounted in the bushing and having one end projecting from the bushing for actuation, the handle having a partially spherical portion seating on said internal seat so the center of the spherical portion functions as a pivot for the handle, an insert fixed in the bushing and having a slot therein through which the handle extends, said handle having opposed flats cooperating with the slot walls in the insert to constrain the movement of the handle to movement in a plane, said opposed flats extending into the spherical portion of the handle to develop opposed shoulders which overlie the insert on opposite sides of the slot with the spherical portion of the handle being captured between the seat and the insert,

and means fixing the bushing and insert in a mounting plate.

2. A toggle switch actuator assembly comprising,

a bushing having an internal seat,

a handle mounted in the bushing and having one end projecting from the bushing for actuation,

the handle having a partially spherical portion seating on said internal seat so the center of the spherical portion functions as the pivot point for the handle,

an insert fixed in the bushing and having a slot therein through which the handle extends, said insert capturing the spherical portion of the handle between said seat and the insert,

said handle having a flat thereon which cooperates with the slot to guide the handle motion in the desired plane while preventing rotation of the handle about its axis,

a mounting plate,

ears projecting radially from said insert,

and slots in the bushing and in the mounting plate receiving said ears whereby the ears fix the insert, bushing, and mounting plate with respect to each other.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 in which the bushing extends below the insert and is secured to the mounting plate to hold the assembly of the bushing, insert, and mounting plate together.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 in which the portion of the bushing extending below the insert is in the general form of a collar and the collar is secured to the mounting plate by rolling the collar material onto the mounting plate. 

1. A toggle switch actuator assembly comprising, a bushing having an internal seat, a handle mounted in the bushing and having one end projecting from the bushing for actuation, the handle having a partially spherical portion seating on said internal seat so the center of the spherical portion functions as a pivot for the handle, an insert fixed in the bushing and having a slot therein through which the handle extends, said handle having opposed flats cooperating with the slot walls in the insert to constrain the movement of the handle to movement in a plane, said opposed flats extending into the spherical portion of the handle to develop opposed shoulders which overlie the insert on opposite sides of the slot with the spherical portion of the handle being captured between the seat and the insert, and means fixing the bushing and insert in a mounting plate.
 2. A toggle switch actuator assembly comprising, a bushing having an internal seat, a handle mounted in the bushing and having one end projecting from the bushing for actuation, the handle having a partially spherical portion seating on said internal seat so the center of the spherical portion functions as the pivot point for the handle, an insert fixed in the bushing and having a slot therein through which the handle extends, said insert capturing the spherical portion of the handle between said seat and the insert, said handle having a flat thereon which cooperates with the slot to guide the handle motion in the desired plane while preventing rotation of the handle about its axis, a mounting plate, ears projecting radially from said insert, and slots in the bushing and in the mounting plate receiving said ears whereby the ears fix the insert, bushing, and mounting plate with respect to each other.
 3. An assembly according to claim 2 in which the bushing extends below the insert and is secured to the mounting plate to hold the assembly of the bushing, insert, and mounting plate together.
 4. An assembly according to claim 3 in which the portion of the bushing extending below the insert is in the general form of a collar and the collar is secured to the mounting plate by rolling the collar material onto the mounting plate. 